Transformation of National Weather Service IT: Future of NWS Network Infrastructure

The NWS has been analyzing its existing network infrastructure with plans to modernize to a future NWS network. As part of this approach, feedback from various NWS Programs, regions and field offices were collected with an eye towards the expected NWS future shifts in its operations model and systems infrastructure such as AWIPS in the Cloud. The NWS is working to incorporate the general concepts from the approach into a roadmap that leverages modern networking technologies to enable the operational workforce.

These concepts include developing a network architecture with a focus on forecaster mobility, network traffic management, confidentiality, integrity, resiliency, and performance, as well as a migration approach, estimated implementation timeline, and cost estimate. This recommended network architecture will support the networking requirements of all NWS operations. Additionally, the NWS is reviewing its network security architecture and how to incorporate a Zero-Trust framework that provides appropriate access to NWS offices, HQ and field staff, and the extended Weather Enterprise of commercial entities and academic researchers who rely on NWS data.